Power measurement with distorted waveforms

Power electronics is growing in importance-an ever increasing proportion of the installed electrical load incorporates power electronics. These loads invariably produce complex waveforms and draw distorted current waveforms from the supply. This therefore represents a special challenge in making electrical measurements-particularly if we bear in mind that conventional instrumentation often cannot cope with the complex waveforms involved. At the same time it is becoming more and more important to make these measurements and to make them accurately. Energy costs are increasing and customers demand to know the efficiency of installed equipment. In addition there is increasing legislation governing the level of distortion and power factor of equipment. For all these reasons it is becoming more and more important to make accurate measurements with both simple and complex waveforms